Mail-bag fastening



(No Model.)

M. V'. B. ETHRIDGE.

MAIL BAG FASTENING.

Patented Apr. 22, 1884.`

i UNITED STATES PATENT OEETEE- MARTIN V. B. ETHEIDGE, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO HENRY E. VAITE, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,245, dated' April 22, 1884.

Application filed March 10, 1884.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beitknown thatl I, MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fastenings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact .description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of mailbag fastenings or devices for securing the mouth of a bag, Satchel, or similar article, in which the mouth of said article is secured by means of interlocking flanged plates attached, 2o respectively, to the mouth of the bag and to the under side of a clasp or locking-bar; and

the invention consists in the combination, with such bag and clasp, of a hasp having a lug for entering a slot in the clasp; and, further, in

certain peculiarities in the construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

" In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention, Figure l is a partial side view of 3o the upper part of a mail-bag, satchel, or similar article provided with my improved fastening. Fig. 2 is a partial top or plan view of the mouth of the bag, showing the same closed but unfastened, the binder or dexible fastening-bar being removed. Fig. 3 is a perspec .tive view of a portion of the flexible binder with a part of its covering or hood removed.`

Fig. 4 represents an end View of the binder,

and also a cross-sectional view of the bag with 4o its locking-flanges orl guideways. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line a: m of Fig. l. Fig.

6 is a side view of one of the locking-flanges or guideways that are attached to the mouth of the bag. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one of said guideways, showing a modication in its form.

In the mouth ofthe bag A, on opposite sides,

are secured leather strips a a, that afford a firm bearing or attachment for the locking-flanges (No model.)

or guideways B B, a series of which are ar 5o ranged on each side, as shown in Fig. 2. These locking-flanges are preferably made of light spring tempered steel, and each consists of a shank portion, b, that is riveted or otherwise secured to the leather strips a, and a lip portion, c, that engages with corresponding flanges on the sliding binder C, by which the mouth of the'bag is secured. The metallic anges or guideways B B are attached to the mouth of the bag in such a manner that the opposite sets correspond in position, as shown in Fig. 2, when the bag is closed, and sufficient spaces are left between the adjacent iianges or plates B on each side to enable the mouth of the bag to be opened in the form of a circle, or approximately so, when the bag is un fastened. -It will be understood that the strips a. a are not formed in continuous pieces to eX- tend entirel around the bag, but each of these strips is cut at the ends of the mouth, so that when the bag is closed the llanges or guideways B B, on opposite sides, will register, as shown in Fig. 2.

The flexible binder C consists of several parallel strips of leather or other pliable ina- .teriah between which strips are secured a series of metallic locking-flanges, D, for engaging with and inclosing the Bange B in the mouth of the bag. The flanged plates D are provided with inwardly-bent lips d, so as to interlock with the outwardly-bent lips c of the flanges or plates B, when the binder C is slid into place over the closed mouth of the bag.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. l that the hanged plates or locking-ways B D are arranged in such a manner as to break ljoints with each other, as shown in dotted lines when in position for fastening the bag, each plate D clasping two of the plates B B, thereby affording a firm and secure fastening. In order to enable the flanged plates B D to slip past cach other readily in opening and closing the bag, the lips c d are made with rounded or beveled ends. By this construction, also, the ends of the lips c and d are not so liable to become jammed or bent out of shape under hard usage as would be the case if they were square-cornered. The lips c of vIG the flanged plates B, besides being rounded or beveled at their ends, are alsoY preferably provided with longitudinal swells or corrugations e, having beveled ends, as shown in Fig. 6. In making these lianged plates, the steel of which they are fo 1ined is struck up into either ofthe forms shown by sectional views in Figs. 4t or 7, the corrugaticns or swells e being either in the center or on one side of the lip c. This swell or eorrugation e is greatest 'in the middle, and tapers or diminishes gradually at the ends.

It will be seen that by forming the lips c with swells e having rounded or beveled ends, as shown, the engagement of the lian ged plates B and D is greatly facilitated, andthe several sections are enabled to slip readily past each other in fastening and unfastening the bag.

It will also be observed that the liexible character ofthe binder C enables its attached plates D to be readily slipped into engage- Inent with the locking-ways B, the mouth ot' the bag being iirst closed, so as to bring the opposite sets ot' tlanged plates B together.

rEhe binder C is provided with a hood or covering, f, of leather or other suitable material, that extends down on each side, so as to cover the sides of the locking-plates D, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The mouth ofthe bag A is extended above the strips a a, and forms a similar covering for the locking-ways B, as shown in Fig. When the binder C is in position, the locking-plates B and D are thus completely concealed and protected from injury by the overlapping parts. A't'ter the binder C has been slipped into place, it is secured by means of a combined hasp and tagholder, E, that is pivoted to the side of the bag. This hasp is provided with a slot, g, that engages with a staple, 7L, on the side ot' the bag, and it also has a lug, F, that enters aslot, i, in the side ot' the binder C, thereby holding the binder firmly, the parts being secured by a padlock passed through the staple 7L over the hasp, as shown in Fig. 5 by dotted lines.

The hasp and tag-holder are preferably conibined in one piece, as shown, though, it` desired, they may be made separate. When arranged as shown in Fig. l, it will be seen that the tag or destination-card is prevented from slipping outof its holder by the staple h until the bag has been unlocked.

By forming the flanged locking-plates of very thin steel the requisite lightness and elasticity are obtained without impairing the strength or durability of the parts. The form that is given to the iianged plates B, especially the relative curves ofthe lip c and its swell e, as shown, is of value in enabling the plates B and D to slip past each other withoutobstruction, and when these flanged plates are attached to a bearing composed of several strips of leather, a a, whereby the necessary stability is secured, and the whole series clasped by the ilanged plates or locking-ways on the flexible binder, a very secure fastening is afforded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y l. The combination, with the bag A and binder C, having slot fi, ot' the hasp E, provided with a lug, F, for enteriiig said slot, and means for securing the hasp, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the bag A, having strips a. a within its mouth, and l'langed locking-ways B B, attached thereto, the mouth ofthe bag being extended above said strips to cover the sides of the locking-ways, ot' a iiexible binder, C, having hood f and lockingways D D, substantially as described.

3. rlhe combination, with the bag A, having strips a a., secured within its mouth, ot' the llanged locking-ways B B, supported by said strips and provided with lips c c and swells e c, and the liexible binder C, having lockingways D D, substantially as described.

4'. The combination, with a inail-bag having anged locking ways or plates B B and staple 71, and abinder, C, provided with flanged locking-plates D D and slot i, ofthe hasp and tag-holder E, having slot g and lug F, and m ans for securing the hasp, substantially as4 described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN V.y B. ETHRIDGE.

Vitnesses: l

(Er-Lis. HALL Anilirs, JOHN H. MooNnY. 

